Thinking Religion

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Thinking Religion is a podcast hosted by The Revs. Merianna Neely Harrelson and Sam Harrelson tackling various topics that deal with the intersection of religion, the Bible, faith, and culture.

Sam Harrelson

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    • Jan 6, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 156 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Thinking Religion

    Episode 169: Dave Maxfield

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2021 45:16


    Sam is joined by Dave Maxfield, a consumer protection attorney in Columbia, SC to discuss how he applies lessons from other businesses to his own law firm. The discuss revenue, average unit values, throughput rates, cycle time, the concept of the block, Trello, and productivity. This is a fascinating discussion of how to do business better! Topics Discussed: Thinking Differently About Revenue How to Structure Getting Paid in a New Way Developing Your Own Formula for Understanding Profit Average Unit Values of Production Throughput Rate Cycle Time (Where We Get Killed) Why Do Things Get Blocked? A Lot of Things Get Caught at the End

    Episode 168: Matthew Klippenstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 59:13


    Matthew Klippenstein is an Engineer écrivain (technical writing, not PR) in the electric vehicle and clean energy space from British Columbia. Sam discusses demographics, religiosity in pandemics, the boom in clean energy, and the concept of ClimateTech with Matthew this week. Special Guest: Matthew Klippenstein.

    Episode 167: Thomas Whitley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 35:10


    Thomas Whitley is the Chief of Staff for Mayor John Dailey's office in Tallahassee, Florida. In this episode, we discuss what Tallahassee is doing to help citizens and small businesses deal with the economic impacts of Covid as well as marketing efforts that the Mayor's Office is undertaking to get the word out about those efforts.

    Episode 166: Specialized Marketing and Morning Light with Merianna

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 20:26


    Today I'm thinking about specialized marketing. As a case study, we look at Morning Light. This is a new book of poetry (or a devotional) from The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson looking to address a variety of audiences looking for a similar value proposition. Let's think about how each of our marketing efforts impact what we're trying to accomplish and how well we're actually doing what needs to be done. Special Guest: Merianna Neely Harrelson.

    Episode 165: Jonah 3:10-4:11

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2020 5:19


    We'll get back to Genesis, but here's a test recording I did when we were reading through Jonah for Thinking Religion. Here are some quick thoughts on Jonah's final encounter with God after Nineveh proves to be a little more receptive than first thought... Text available here: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=176000971

    Episode 164: Genesis 5: Before The Flood

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2020 14:25


    Another creation story, how we get from Adam to Noah, and Sumerian King List (with a little Dylan)

    Episode 163: Genesis 4:17-26: Lamech and Seth and Polygamy From the Start

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 16:24


    SC voting stuff, iOS 14 is out, I'm making steaks tonight, and we get into the origins of civilizations with ... polyamory. Lamech and Seth.

    Episode 162: Genesis 4:1-16: Cain and Abel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 22:10


    Today, we go over salmon recipes, Documentary Hypothesis, J's and G's in German, our new farming unit at homeschool with the 4 year old, and the tragic story of Cain and Abel and the Mark of Cain. Where did Cain's wife come from?? Listen and let's find out.

    Episode 161: Genesis 3:20-24: East of Eden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 21:45


    Q&A and follow up from Gen 3:20-24 post

    Episode 160: Gesticulating Wildly

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2020 45:28


    This week we take a look back on a fascinating week of religion news and discuss how to talk to people who don't think the same way you do before closing out with a little history lesson on Acts 4-5.

    Episode 159: You Can't Get a Babysitter For Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 24:06


    Merianna and Sam discuss church schedules, life of the pastor's spouse, missing Sunday morning worship, Micah 6:8, and high church baptists.

    Episode 158: We Don't Talk About That in Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2020 68:17


    This week, Revs. Merianna Neely Harrelson and Sam Harrelson discuss canonization, the politics of commentaries, Jonah's Whale, interpretation history, Doomsday Clock, Harrowing of Hell, and masturbation lessons from Sunday School.

    "The Next Day" Sermon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 24:05


    Bonus episode here as the main show will be coming out a little later this week. This is audio from Sam's sermon on John 1:29-42 this past Sunday at Garden of Grace UCC in Columbia, SC about sin, community, identity, and why he started going to church.

    Episode 157: Talking To Our Younger Selves about Religion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2020 64:16


    Sam is joined by The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson to discuss how she approaches Acts in church Bible studies, canonization, ascension vs resurrection vs transfiguration, the problem with a seminary education, and 4 listener questions. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Ancient Rite" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

    Episode 156: You Miss 100% Of The Shots You Don't Take - Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2020 70:45


    Sam is joined by Matthew Klippenstein this week to discuss fracturing of denominations, late dating of biblical texts, what an American has to learn from a Canadian, why the Dalai Lama might want to consider the lilies, and why ACTS might be the best book in the New Testament. Special Guest: Matthew Klippenstein.

    Episode 155: Back to Weekly

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2019 2:40


    Big news in this one… we’re coming back weekly for 2020! Starting around New Year’s Day, we’ll be back with all new guests and voices (and voices of guests) as well as some fun book giveaways, and a number of insider downloads drawing from the show’s past (and present and future). Merry Christmas from Merianna, Sam, and the Harrelson family and more soon! (We also have an exciting new podcast studio that we'll be discussing)...

    Episode 154: What's the Point?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2019 35:55


    Merianna and Sam discuss cultural transitions and how churches of all sizes and shapes are positioning themselves in the midst of societal shifts.

    Episode 153: The Myth of Needed Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2019 59:34


    Merianna and Sam discuss the notion of generational divides in politics, mattress buying, and church attendance.

    The Moral Checklist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2019 49:00


    Merianna and Sam discuss old friends, new parenting techniques while attempting to figure out what makes the church different from the garden club.

    Episode 151: Debating Narrative Preaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2019 39:13


    Merianna and Sam (and newborn Baby Girl) discuss insider language in denominations, the LGBTQ question facing the United Methodist Church, narrative preaching, and the difficulties of studying for a sermon in 2019 in the age of unlimited entertainment.

    Episode 150: True Love Waits For Instagram Stories to Load

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 42:56


    Merianna and Sam tackle Instagram Stories, performative social media, and generational gender divides in reading the Scripture.

    Episode 149: Insta Bible Study

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2019 44:45


    Merianna and Sam discuss Instagram Bible studies, reading the whole Bible in a year, and the search for authenticity in a time of societal shifts.

    Episode 148: Faith Is a Boomerang

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2018 48:34


    The Rev. Lauren Larkin joins Sam to discuss birthing pangs in Genesis, the merits of demythologizing, and Dialectical Theology in the 21st Century. Special Guest: Lauren R.E. Larkin.

    Episode 147: Thinking Religion Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2018 4:22


    Ready for the next episode? Here we go! THINKING RELIGION is coming back in August :)

    Episode 146: And In the End

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2018 29:45


    Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss things we pass down and the best way to sign off.

    Episode 145: Thinking About the Term Partners

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2018 38:36


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the term "partners" in its modern context and whether or not it is performative for certain couples. That leads to a discussion about the role of social media in our lives if we could, in fact, delete Facebook.

    Episode 144: Should Your Church Delete Its Facebook Page?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2018 50:18


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Samuel Harrelson discuss The Great Social Media Reckoning of 2018, broadcast media vs social media, why you need a website (and why your church needs a GOOD website), and the importance of bringing it all back home.

    Episode 143: Boys Keep Swinging

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2018 50:31


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss boys' weekends, gender assumptions, the Documentary Hypothesis, the historicity of the Gospels, and Justice850.

    Episode 142: "Too great of a religious hurry"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2018 25:36


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the fierce urgency of now, and why the church should be the gadflies of tension in a time of transition.

    Episode 141: Could Jesus Read and Write?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2018 52:23


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss British trivia shows, the concept of literacy in the ancient world, what accent Jesus might have had, and whether we now have historical proof of the prophet Isaiah.

    Episode 140: Hermeneutic of Violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2018 54:53


    Dr. Thomas Whitely and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss wearing Clerical Collars every day, our country's normalized hermeneutic of violence, and a new podcast.

    Episode 139: Hiring Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2018 57:54


    Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss beards, Life on Mars, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's hiring policy (and past, present, future).

    Episode 138: Toxic Jesusinity and The Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2018 58:19


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss toxic masculinity and compare Trump with Jesus, Apple's woes, and voice assistants.

    Episode 137: The Fertile Croissant

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2018 50:17


    Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Samuel B. Harrelson play HQ Trivia and go to The Good Place to discuss Squab Goals. “My name is Kierkegaard and my writing is impeccable. Check out my teleological suspension of the ethical.”

    Episode 136: A Million Little Candidates

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2018 41:01


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss quantum hacks, the evolution of reality TV and its impact on our Gen X lives, and why 2020 will be a different political landscape than 2016.

    Episode 135: A Republic, If You Can Keep It

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2018 62:13


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the Bomb Cyclone, The Myth of Progress, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook, Lectionaries and conflating Gospels, and the need for a new political dialogue in our country.

    Episode 134: Advent in the Minor Key

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2017 59:49


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss nativity scenes, bad Christmas songs, Epiphany, the War on Christmas, and bad Apple (batteries). Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

    Episode 133: Our Holiday Extravaganza

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2017 71:05


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined by The Rev. Lauren E. Larkin, Prof. W. Travis McMaken ("McBacon"), and The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson in an extravaganza of epic proportions. They discuss Clash of the Titans, why you should write a book, gendered religious language, Ancient Aliens, Alex Jones, flogging, and hate watching the world burn. Special Guests: Lauren R.E. Larkin, Merianna Neely Harrelson, and W. Travis McMaken.

    Episode 132: Is It Worth Selling Your Soul?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2017 63:40


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the #metoo Revolution, amplifying voices, and whether anything is worth trading your integrity.

    Episode 131: Pushing Against the Public Transcript

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2017 59:03


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss Black Friday, gaming, moral questions, Evangelical strawmen, and complicity.

    Episode 130: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2017 47:41


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined by Prof. Chris Frilingos to discuss his book "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph: Family Trouble in the Infancy Gospels" and why the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and Proto-Gospel of James are so important for contemporary audiences. Special Guest: Christopher A. Frilingos.

    Episode 129: Writing Their Last Chapters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2017 58:43


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson watch election returns together and discuss the impact of our choices and the role of our national patience.

    Episode 128: "I have no idea what you believe."

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2017 60:52


    Sam is joined by The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson to discuss beards, doubt, faith, securing your spot in The Good Place or The Bad Place, ethics and eschatology, rededicating your life, and salvation bracelets. Special Guest: Merianna Neely Harrelson.

    Episode 127: Under the Screen

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2017 53:52


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the iPhone X, Airpods and Mods, prepping for the coming apocalypses, Heaven's Gate, and the theologies of nativism.

    Episode 126: The Problems with The Dark Age

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2017 50:48


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss anniversaries and birthdays in the Facebook age, whether the Vikings referenced Allah in their gear, and why "The Dark Ages" is such a troublesome concept (and why we're currently in the midst of The Digital Dark Age).

    Episode 125: Conceptions of Hell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2017 54:52


    Love of books, Kindle vs hardbacks, home ownership, hell, sex, generational divides, and epistemology

    Episode 124: Mark is the Best Book in the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2017 54:21


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson talk about phone problems and promises, growing up, and the finale of the First Thinking Religion Bible Bracket Challenge Extravaganza. Podium Winners: Gold: Mark Silver: Matthew Bronze: 1 Samuel

    Episode 123: Testing the Limits

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2017 73:04


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined again by David Ray Allen Jr. to cover the Final Four of the Bible Bracket Challenge. It gets bloody this week. Special Guest: David Ray Allen Jr..

    Episode 122: Last Night on Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2017 97:29


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson compare their phones' home screens, discuss the relevance of Facebook to political campaigns, and continue the very contentious Bible Bracket Challenge Elite 8 Round to decide the Final Four. It's on.

    Episode 121: That's What Mordecai Said

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2017 103:11


    Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss new iPhones, playing the expectations game, and how mobile devices have transformed learning and worshipping. Then, they launch into the "Sweet 16" of the Bible Brackets Challenge. Sorry, Esther.

    Episode 120: Stink Bug Theology

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2017 72:11


    The Rev. Lauren Larkin joins Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson in a discussion of how hermeneutics and worldviews affect our theologies and what sort of spaces we try to build. Special Guest: Lauren R.E. Larkin.

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